A Delayed Song-Time Sunday!

Many apologies for not posting yesterday. I’ve been a little up and down in terms of mood and physical well-being these last couple days, and I’m finding motivation a little difficult to muster. But not to worry! I’m feeling mostly better today (just a little headache, but I’ve taken some ibuprofen and I’m drinking some tea, so that should take care of itself soon).

As I mentioned a few posts ago, I’ve been reading Christopher Castellani’s novel, The Saint of Lost Things. One of the characters in it plays the accordion, and there’s a pivotal scene in the book where he plays the song, “Mamma.” I have to confess, it’s not a song I know very well, but I do recognize it.

And the eternal question comes down to this: Do I give you the Pavarotti version, or the Andrea Bocelli? Since I can’t decide, I’ll give ya’ll both, and you can listen to whichever you please!

Andrea Bocelli’s performance is obviously more recent. They are, however, both incredibly talented men. I used to really love Pavarotti as a kid – he was this very round, very Italian man with god-like pipes. As I grew, I started to understand more of who he was as a person, and I liked him less. That’s not to say that I don’t still really respect his incredible musical legacy. He certainly did a great service for Italian music.

But I’m more than a little enamored with Andrea Bocelli. He comes from extremely humble beginnings, he seems to remember this and continue to be very humble – and despite what others would consider a crippling disability, the man plays a huge number of instruments, many of which he learned after the accident that finally caused his blindness.

Anyway, that’s my two cents on the musicians I’ve chosen. Now some lyrics and translations for you!

And that’s that! I was vaguely wondering whether I should wait for Mother’s Day to post this song – and then I remembered that my Div III show will have already been over for a month by then! What a weird thought. I may still keep up with this blog after the show – perhaps even after I graduate – since I know that the content here is something that will still be important to me as I go on in life, and I know there are others who find this information useful.

Anyway, I hope you all had a lovely Sunday despite the lack of song, and that those of you in the US are having a peaceful, reflective Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! A presto!